Manufacturing Financial Analyst / Plant Accountant

Arkansas Talent Group is proud to partner with a premier manufacturer with a cutting-edge production facility in Little Rock. We're seeking a Manufacturing Financial Analyst / Plant Accountant who will play a vital role in overseeing plant financial performance, supporting operational decision-making, and driving efficiency across cost management, budgeting, and reporting functions.

The ideal candidate enjoys understanding the story behind the numbers, thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, and is motivated to help guide the financial success of a growing organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and analyze standard costing models for production operations to ensure accurate cost tracking and variance analysis.
• Generate daily, weekly, and monthly financial reports to monitor plant performance, costs, and key metrics against budgets and forecasts.
• Partner closely with plant management and department leads to understand operational results, identify cost savings, and support data-driven decision-making.
• Oversee inventory management and cost controls, ensuring accurate valuation, appropriate cost allocations, and adherence to internal control procedures.
• Lead the annual inventory count and ensure all cycle count processes align with policy and financial integrity standards.
• Support the month-end close process, including reconciling production orders, analyzing variances, validating inventory cut-offs, and preparing capital expenditure summaries.
• Participate in annual budget planning and monthly forecasting, providing detailed analysis on trends, variances, and future scenarios.
• Prepare and present financial insights to senior leadership, highlighting performance drivers, opportunities for improvement, and strategic recommendations.
• Maintain documentation and reporting related to government incentive programs and compliance initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field (CPA or CMA preferred).
• 5+ years of progressive experience in financial analysis or accounting within a manufacturing environment, or in public accounting with industrial clients.
• Strong understanding of US GAAP or IFRS financial standards.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and familiarity with ERP systems (SAP preferred); experience with FP&A tools such as VENA is an advantage.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Highly detail-oriented with the ability to balance multiple priorities and collaborate effectively across departments.
• Hybrid work flexibility, with consistent on-site presence required to support operations teams.

For more information, please apply directly or reach out to Jennifer Thompson via LinkedIn.

Arkansas Talent Group is an Executive Permanent Placement Recruitment Firm, all considerations will be held confidential.